BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSX-V: GMG) (“GMG” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide a progress update on its Graphene Aluminium-Ion Battery technology (“G+AI Battery”) being developed by GMG and the University of Queensland (“UQ”), and on the transition from coin cells to pouch cell format.
The Company has now made initial G+AI Battery prototype pouch cells (see Figure 1), which have a storage capacity of over 500 mAh, with a nominal voltage of ~ 2 volts. This is a significant development as it shows the Company has matured the battery electro-chemistry and assembly techniques of producing pouch cells with over 10 layers of graphene coated cathode and aluminium foil anode.
The next step for the Company is to optimise the assembly techniques of the pouch cell prototypes. This is to achieve repeatable storage capacity of over 500 mAh cells in order to conduct a variety of standard testing conditions for comparative purposes. The Company then intends to pursue producing cells with over 20 double-layers to get a storage capacity of 1000 mAh by using an automatic coating machine, cathode laser cutting equipment, and a semi-automatic stacker, to achieve reproduceable cells for validation trials.
The aforementioned reproduceable cells is to meet an objective for the Rio Tinto Joint Development Agreement. This target is to achieve a repeatable capacity of 1000 mAh by H1 2024 and then produce this pouch cell at scale by H1 2025.
Battery Technology Readiness Level
The battery technology readiness level (“BTRL”) of the Graphene Aluminium-Ion technology has progressed to Level 4 (see Figure 3). GMG is currently optimizing electrochemical behaviour for pouch cells via ongoing laboratory experimentation.
Source: “The Battery Component Readiness Level (BC-RL) Framework: A technology-specific development framework”, Matthew Greenwood et al
Next Steps Toward Commercialisation & Market Applications
The Company continues to see a broad range of applications for a completed GMG Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery – utilising its ultra-high power-density and nominal energy density characteristics. A range of global companies have confidentially expressed their interest in working with GMG in the following vertical sectors:
- Diesel engine replacement (high load and power requirements)
- Energy storage (in front of, or behind the meter)
- Personal electronics (fast charging and long life)
- Aviation (including vertical take-off and landing)
- Electric vehicles
- Other applications
Next Generation Battery Performance
GMG’s next generation Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery performance data (as tested and calculated on coin cells), as compared to the most commonly available lithium-ion batteries, is shown below in Figure 4, with a list of its beneficial characteristics.
Performance results for the pouch cells could be significantly different and will be communicated upon successfully producing a 1000 mAh+ battery pouch cell, and testing has been completed.
GMG’s 4 critical business objectives are:
- Produce Graphene and improve/scale cell production processes
- Build Revenue from Energy Savings Products
- Develop Next-Generation Battery
- Develop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution Capability
About GMG
GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process.
GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, ‘tuneable’ and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications. The Company’s present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications.
In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC-R”) coating (or energy-saving paint), lubricants and fluids. In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries (“G+AI Batteries”).
For further information please contact:
• Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223
• Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Originally Posted: graphenemg.com
See here for our full summary of disclosure and risks